BUILDING NORTH DAKOTA

USDA Rural Development

USDA Under Secretary and USDA State Director visit with residents in Richardton.

Dear friends of rural North Dakota,

It's an honor to have been entrusted with the responsibilities of a team and an organization that makes such a positive impact for rural people and places in this state we love. It's been a whirlwind of activity since my first day on August 10. It was a privilege to showcase some of the excellent work of our community partners and our Rural Development staff to our Under Secretary for Rural Development-she was very impressed with the work being done, and the opportunities for the work ahead that improves the quality of life for rural North Dakotans. I had a personal visit with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack on my fourth day on the job and can convey to everyone that his commitment to improving the lives of all rural Americans is unwavering in the 'fourth quarter' of this administration. I look forward to the work ahead with excitement and confidence in our collaborative ability.

- Ryan Taylor, State Director

USDA Home Loan Training in Bismarck

To view the agenda and register, visit http://bit.ly/1DKk4xG.

Inaugural Tribal Food Summit

USDA Rural Development and Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College (NHSC) is sponsoring the first tribal food summit. The public is invited to attend the summit, which will include traditional food speakers, academic presentations and panel sessions. There will also be workshops designed by disciplines, theories & methods, activist priorities, along with cultural and agricultural histories.

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2015

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (CDT)

Location: NHSC in New Town

Construction Started on Nursing Home in Richardton

USDA Under Secretary Lisa Mensah visits the construction site of the nursing home in Richardton.

Construction recently began on the new $6.2 million nursing home in Richardton. To see the progress firsthand, USDA Under Secretary Lisa Mensah visited the site. Through the Community Facilities program, USDA Rural Development provided a $5.5 million loan. Read the Bismarck Tribune article for more information on the project.

Co-op Receives USDA Loan to Expand Rural Electricity

Central Power Announcement Press Conference

Helping to announce the electric loan: Dennis Hill, NDaREC; Ryan Taylor, USDA; Senator Hoeven and Lisa Mensah, USDA.

While USDA Under Secretary Mensah was in North Dakota, she announced that Central Power Electric Cooperative will receive a $46 million loan from USDA to make critical infrastructure improvements.

Serving more than 56,000 consumers across 25 counties, Central Power will use the financing to build-out 51 miles of transmission line and make system improvements to deliver reliable and affordable electricity. The loan also includes $171,000 for smart grid technology. Learn more by viewing the KFYR-TV story.

Programs, Deadlines and Events

Aug. 26: Learn how to make your home "vistable." Bismarck.
Aug. 29: Tribal Foods Conference, New Town.
Sept. 1-3: USDA Home Loan Packager Training, Bismarck.
Sept. 8-10:Tribal Leaders Summit & Trade Show, Bismarck.
Sept. 10-13: 46th Annual International Powwow, Bismarck.
Sept. 17: Pride of Dakota Day at the State Capitol.
Sept. 17-18: Creating Hunger Free Communities Statewide Summit, Bismarck.

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To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410 Or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). "USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."